When it comes to learning piano, the first thing that came to people’s mind is those big, big, shiny black piano, with intimidating long white and black ivory keys that your arms can’t even stretch from end to end, and a hefty price just to buy the cheapest model in your home!
And, playing all those melodies came a little daunting to you that you even mumble to yourself – “how on earth can you ever manage to play like those people, when you even feel like cracking your fingers every now and then, when your fingers are not even ‘working’?”
Learning piano always comes to your mind that you have to be buried in tonnes of books full of ‘tau geh’s…Starting to learn songs that probably you have never heard of (e.g. The Blue Danebe), just to, eventually being able to play your FAVOURITE SONG…(Ahhh…)
Oh ya, probably you have heard of learning pop piano nowadays…. But the teaching method in most places are just like learning classical piano, the only difference is you learn pop songs with scores!!!
The learning process is the same..
- You learn scales, boring scales every sessions..
- You start to learn simple kindergarden songs for few months..
- You try to write the note name in the score given by your teacher…cause you cannot recognize the ‘tau geh’ fast enough…(you even want to write the note’s name on your piano keys!!)
Aiya…this way of learning is sooo boring… and many always gave up halfway…Mind you, I mean halfway as in 1 or 2 years of learning, ok...not just 3, 4 months....
'Cause, you do not feel like you've achieved much enough to give you satisfaction to carry on your learning anymore after striving for so long....(right?? most of us, urbanists just don't have the patience...)
Don’t get me wrong that this happens to everyone. It is just that most people that I know felt this way. We all know learning to read the 5-line score is great, especially it's a great music foundation for children. However, to learn in this method for working adults and busy tertiary students is hard, especially in a fast-pace Singapore environment.
But you always wonder why some pianists can play without reading the scores? That’s because we learn by ear and concepts! We do not need to know what to play; we just play as what we wish to hear!
That’s this concept that keeps us going stronger, and stronger.
We have our own pop piano syllabus, which has been fine-tuned through 7 years of experience. They focus on delivering concepts, identifying chords, understanding some basic playing rhythmic patterns for accompaniment, and there you are, being able to play a simple pop song in just 3 months! Learning the notes in solfege (do, re, mi…) is much easier and achievable for adults to pick up this instrument.
Through your learning experience here, you are constantly motivated to play your favourite songs with the concepts taught. That’s probably why most students have a sense of satisfaction as they learn. Together with our structured and fine-tuned syllabus and committed instructors, we are so glad that many students have enjoyed their learning experience here.
Oh well, I am not trying to do sales here anyway. Haha... Just had this thought to share this piano learning process with you guys. :) That is because, with umpteen discussions with my various friends around, many are always puzzled by the concept that I’ve mentioned. Majority of the people always thought that there’s just one way of learning piano. (Hmm......)
So, just like to share a little on this new modern way of learning, to everyone!
Ok, to end on a light note, take a look at this video (Mind you, it’s a 10mins long video!)! It will definitely amaze you, and I’m sure it will bring you back some interesting memories! J Probably will make you smile a little too. Check out the last song!!! That's amazing speed!
Oh well, of course, playing like what the guys did was simply “not achievable” by normal people like us!!! Haha…This takes definitely more than 10 years of trainings!
Meanwhile, Happy Teacher’s Day everyone!!
Especially to all Hark Music’s Instructors!!!!
